OK, you've seen where they signed it, and you've visited the famous cracked bell....what's next? Finding a cheesesteak, of course!
Admit it, it's one of the things you "had to try" while visiting the city. Well, I'm going to help you out.
First off, let me state it very clearly.
You do not need to actually enter into any building in order to complete this cache.
Secondly, I know parking sucks. That's why they made a show about the Philadelphia Parking Authority. They will ticket you if you decide to park illegally. Trust me, this cache is NOT worth the fine. You can conceivably walk the whole way, but it will be about a mile and a half round trip.
I've listed three waypoints (the posted cords, and two additional waypoints (G&J, listed elsewhere). These coordinates will lead you to the general area of some of Philadelphia's longest tenured cheesesteak vendors.
I chose these three (out of the 10,000 purported steak makers in the city) because they embody the differences in the basic cheesesteak design...and each has managed to survive for decades using their own recipes.
Although the method seems basic....
as Wikipedia says:
"The meat traditionally used is thinly sliced rib-eye or top round, although other cuts of beef are also used.[15] On a lightly oiled griddle at medium temperature, the steak slices are quickly browned and then scrambled into smaller pieces with a flat spatula. Slices of cheese are then placed over the meat, letting it melt, and then the roll is placed on top of the cheese. The mixture is then scooped up with a spatula and pressed into the roll, which is then cut in half.[16]"
...I assure you, it's not that easy.
There are as many different variations as there are restaurants preparing them. However, each of these three establishments chooses to prepare their sandwiches using a different style. One uses a slab of ribeye, one a lightly shredded steak and the third completely chops their meat into bits. If you've ever bought a "Philly-style" cheesesteak elsewhere in the country, the third way is more than likely how you got it.
Anyway, I digress. Let's get to the point.
In order to claim this virtual, I will need you to complete quite a few tasks....but they shouldn't be too difficult, I promise.
1. Please remember this part...somewhere along the way, you will come across a white historical sign telling you the history of the cheesesteak. Please take a picture of your GPS, yourself or your group with this sign in the background and post it with your log.
2. Many of the world's most famous people have wanted a cheesesteak while in Philadelphia, and you should come across lots of signed pictures while completing this Virtual cache. At (or near the posted cords), look for groups of photographs. Find the picture of the 42nd President of the United States (See? I told you they were famous people!). Count over nine pictures to the right. What name is this famous duo more commonly referred to as?
Now I need you to proceed to Waypoint G.
3. At (or near) the waypoint cords, find the four orange horse heads. Who welcomes you?
4. At (or near) the waypoint cords, find the patches. Yes, there are a lot of them. Starting from the top left hand corner, count over to the 25th patch on the top row. It will have an X in the middle of it made from two uncommon objects. Please tell me what is written on this patch.
Alright, last one.
Head to waypoint J.
5. At (or near the waypoint cords), you should notice the decorative black tiles with the white diamond design that run the length of the building on two sides. At the corner, where these two walls meet, there are two big viewing windows. If you are looking at the windows, there are two large metal man hole covers at your feet. Both have a large W in the middle of them. One says WOODWARD FDY and the other says CAMPBELL FDY. Would you give me the four digit number that is on the CAMPBELL FDY manhole cover?
6. At (or near) the waypoint cords, find the zipper. How many ants do you see?
7. This question may be the hardest. What does the title of the cache really mean?
Please email me the answers to these questions. Don't post the answers here, even if encoded. I reserve the right to delete any logs that haven't met the requirements or that have posted spoilers....including pictures of the answers.
If you feel comfortable with it, include a picture or two of your adventures.
When I was chosen to select a new virtual, I spent a long time deciding what constitutes a good virtual. I decided that, instead of honoring a person or group, I would honor an entire culture.
I noticed how big a deal cheesesteaks were while attending the Philadelphia Eagles SuperBowl victory parade with 2 million of my closest friends. You couldn't walk twenty feet without hearing a conversation about where to get a good cheesesteak. I knew I wanted to pay homage to the steak right then.
I sure hope you had as much fun, discovering the true reason for Philadelphia's charm, as I had placing this virtual.....and c'mon, you were going to end up here anyway. I also believe you can find the answers for all of the questions at any time of day or night, but I take no responsibility of anyone who tries anywhere near 3:00 a.m. The after bar crowd can be a bit.....um, interesting, to say the least.
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.